Reuters Sports News Summary

08/02/2016 3:57

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Priddy pleased to see Russia in Rio for gold defense

Count Reid Priddy, the veteran of the U.S. men's volleyball team, among those happy to see Russia back to defend their gold medal at the Rio Olympics despite a doping scandal that sparked calls for a blanket ban. Priddy, who played professionally for five years in Russia and will be taking part in his fourth Olympics, said he was confident Russian volleyballers were clean and was looking forward to playing them in Rio.

Rio opening ceremony to break with opulent traditions

The Rio de Janeiro Olympics opening ceremony on Friday will break with the recent tradition of large-scale and expensive shows, featuring a low-emissions cauldron and an "analog" experience, executive producer Marco Balich said on Monday. With four days to go until the first Games in South America get under way, Balich told Reuters the show at the Maracana stadium was tailored to the current economic conditions in the country.

WADA defends timing of Russia report after IOC criticism

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday defended the publication date of a damning report on doping in Russia, a day after the International Olympic Committee blamed it for the uncertainty surrounding Russian athletes at the Rio de Janeiro Games. WADA's independent report compiled by law professor Richard McLaren was published on July 18, outlining systematic state-backed doping in Russia and triggering a series of sanctions only days before the start of the Brazil Olympics on Aug. 5.

U.S. and China to win most gold in Rio : Goldman Sachs

The world's two largest economies, the United States and China, will again win most gold medals at the Olympics and Britain will push Russia into third place in the overall standings, Goldman Sachs predicted in a survey released on Monday. American athletes will come away with 45 gold medals from the Rio de Janeiro Games which start on Friday, one less that they got in London four years ago, while China will win 36, two fewer than in 2012, according to the investment bank's economists.

Zika an excuse for top ranked players, says golfer Van Zyl

South African Jaco Van Zyl, who sat out the year's last major, the PGA Championship, to prepare for the Olympics, says the world's top-ranked golfers are using the Zika virus as an excuse to dodge the Rio Games. World number one Jason Day of Australia, American world number two Dustin Johnson and number three Jordan Spieth and fourth ranked Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy all removed their names from Olympic consideration citing the risk of contracting the Zika virus.

Phelps, Ledecky set for 4x100 relays : report

Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky will both feature in the United States 4 x 100 meters freestyle relay teams at the Rio Olympics, USA Today reported on Monday. Neither of the American team's best-known swimmers, with 18-times gold medalist Phelps seeking to add to his collection of 22 medals, qualified for the individual event at the national trials.

Rio's Olympic air: Dirty, deadly and no cleaner legacy from Games

Rio de Janeiro's air is dirtier and deadlier than portrayed by authorities and the Olympics' promised legacy of cleaner winds has not remotely been met, an analysis of government data and Reuters' own testing found. Brazil declared in its official bid for the Olympic Games, which open on Friday, that Rio's air quality was "within the limits recommended by the World Health Organization."

Nadal remains doubtful over Rio participation

Rafael Nadal has conceded he is not yet sure that he will be able to represent Spain at the Rio Olympics as his fitness concerns linger. The 2008 gold medalist withdrew from the French Open with a wrist injury and missed Wimbledon.

Rio changes are down to the Olympics : IOC

The Olympic Games have been the catalyst for a positive transformation of Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic committee said on Monday. With gleaming new stadiums dotting the coastline in the Barra de Tijuca neighborhood, Rio is set to open the first Olympics on South American soil on Friday.

Texas Rangers push trade chips in for pennant push at deadline

The Texas Rangers moved their chips all in and the once high and mighty Yankees traded talent to build for the future on Monday as the Major League Baseball (MLB) trading deadline came to a dizzying end. All but three MLB teams -- the Tigers, Phillies and Rockies -- got in on the action ahead of the non-waiver deadline.

08/02/2016 3:57